LA RISERVA NATURALE -
485.000 €Cortona Sant Egidio - Cod. ref V - 85

In an awesome position with far reaching views out over the Valdichiana, the Val d’Esse and Lake Trasimenoa striking, stone built house on 3 floors with 2.5 acres of surrounding land.

South facing, the property is nestled into the mountainside in what has become a dedicated nature reserve. It is a walker’s paradise and for the fit, the wonderful town of Cortona is just a 40 minute hike away (or alternatively, a 10 minute drive!)

Also within walking distance (about 15 minutes) is the excellent restaurant/pizzeria Castel Girardi, a popular Cortonese haunt during the heat of the summer months, with a large external dining area, cool (er) breezes and amazing views.

The two upper floors of the house are immediately habitable. On the first level there is a side entrance into a large open plan cook’s kitchen with marble countertops, a living room and dining area with a hallway leading off to the two bedrooms and bathroom. The flooring throughout the house is primarily oak plank or hand made terra cotta tile. There is also a beautiful panoramic loggia built in the traditional Tuscan manner from which to enjoy the spectacular views.

The top floor has a large bedroom with a sitting area, a spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower and a cast iron tub. All the fixtures are of high quality. Also on the top floor there is an office/laundry room and large under roof storage space.

The house has been comfortably and attractively designed and furnished throughout. Its interiors are welcoming, light and pleasing in their simplicity and the gorgeous attic bedroom with ensuite bathroom just delights the eye.

On first impact the house’s external facade appears somewhat forbidding (and very probably the reason why this property has not yet sold), but this is actually a false impression and due entirely to the fine stone work and grouting which has been made to last centuries (as all good things once upon a time!!).

In fact, the left façade of the house is easy on the eye with an external staircase and the covered terrace. It is really just the right side which looks bleak (because it is 3 floors of stonework), but this could be remedied SOOOO easily and at zero cost with just a few window sill vases and/or a wild rose trained to grow up the wall. The roof is not typically Tuscan and slopes down in chalet style, but given the house’s dominant position (about 700 metres above sea level), it was probably made this way for practical reasons.

The ground floor, yet to be finished, is one large (neat and tidy!) open space made to a builder’s finish.It is ready, with all necessary pipes and tubing in place, for either creating two further bedrooms and a bathroom connected by an internal staircase to the rest of the house or an independent apartment. Double French windows lead out under a loggia where one can sit and enjoy the views quietly.

The work left to do is very simple and 90% an aesthetic choice as to the finishes one might want and how best to use the space. Costs for completion, including all fees and VAT, would be in the region of E.75,000, but a detailed estimate can be provided before any commitment is made to buying the property.

The property has no restrictions for putting in a swimming pool. The infrastructure of the house was replaced about 6 years ago when the current owners restored the property and includes: all new electrical wiring, breakers and fixtures, gas lines and gas tank, water lines, sewer lines and septic tank system. This includes the ground floor. The house also includes wireless internet and telephone service.

Given the property’s vicinity to Cortona, its fantastic views and potential of becoming a 5 bedroomed home, the asking price of E.485,000(recently lowered from E.640,000) makes it a very interesting proposition.

Complete and with a swimming pool installed, total costs would be circa E.650,000 which in comparison to other properties in the area, definitely makes it a good deal and well worth viewing.